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African National Congress (ANC) members still meeting to discuss their "preference" leader for the party are working against the party, ANC President Jacob Zuma said on Sunday. "They are working against the ANC, those if they still meet to discuss issues before Polokwane."

Addressing an ANC rally in Ondendaalsrus in the northern Free State to celebrate the party's 96-th anniversary, Zuma made a strong plea for unity within the party.

"Our duty (after Polokwane) is to be stronger.

"Unity was the rock on which the ANC was founded."

Zuma said if any meetings were still held it should be to bring an end to "preference" discussions which were allowed before the national congress. "But now a decision has been taken."

Zuma said ANC members must respect the decisions of Polokwane as well as those taken by the party's structures from the National Executive Council down to branch level.

The northern Free State region was one of three ANC regions in the province, which turned to the Bloemfontein high court to try and stop elected party delegates from going to the ANC's National Conference in December 2007.

On Sunday, thousands of people gathered at the Odendaalsrus Stadium in Khutloanong to take part in the day's celebrations. Various music artists took part in the festivities which saw party leaders dancing on the stage from time to time.

The ANC President said the party taught the world a lesson in democracy during its last conference in Polokwane. "We taught them a lesson on how democracy could be demonstrated. "People were amazed."

Zuma also made a plea to the media to report in an "objective" and "responsible" manner. "Then you are our friends," he said.

Zuma urged party members to start focusing on the coming electionsin 2009.